Why I support state police, by Amaechi

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said the country will be better policed, the people better secured and crime reduced, if the constitution allows states to have their own police.

He spoke at the opening of the State Security and Technology Innovation Forum 2012 in Port Harcourt yesterday.

“We are doing our best to secure the citizens. Our investment in security is very huge, that is why I am an apostle of state police, because if you give us state police, we will do far better,”he said.

Amaechi urged the Federal Government to fund the police and provide them with the necessary facilities to enable them combat crime across the country.

“The Federal Government must fund the police. It is not good enough to give them uniforms and they will be walking on the streets, in a community where you have robbers carrying AK-47 rifles.

“The police are overwhelmed by the number of crimes committed in the country.

“Police are not being properly funded in Nigeria. Even the man on the street knows.”

“No matter how you abuse the police, I do not believe that their reward is in heaven, like teachers. Every reward is here on earth. I will continue to pray for you (policemen) to get your reward.

The governor also said the state has acquired two police security helicopters to provide 24 hours d security network across the state.

Amaechi called for the collaboration between the government and the private sector to create employment for the citizens, which he explained would reduce the spate of crime in the society.

“We must realise that one thing is necessary, government and the private sector must fight poverty, because if you don’t create employment, jobs for the citizens, they will create their own jobs, so if we collaborate, the more jobs we create, the lesser the spate of crime in our society.

“So while we provide physical protection, we must also provide social protection, that is why we are pursuing free education, free healthcare, to reduce funding by parents on their children,” Amaechi added.

Why are northern governors against creation of state police? May be their dominance of police formation in the country could be their reason for rejecting state police. Please convince them to support your stand on the subject of state police, as such creation would enhance security of the citizens particularly areas where armed robbers, kidnapper and fanatical moslem malams who are killing people in the name of Allah ,abound. ,.

Mr. Governor, people out side Rivers state don’t know what you are doing in the state. It is very bad of your media and information machinery not to inform the people of your achievements while in office you will certainly not be heard after leaving office. The Governors that are performing below average are beating the drums very high and being celebrated while a performer like you is in the coolers. For state police, your colleagues will certainly abuse it. The security challenges in the States might give credence to your argument but our politicians are not ripe for such powers. It is subject to abuse and will be a weapon to silence dissent opinions.